Velocipede-saddle



I (No Model.)

- G. H. VEEDER.

VELOGIPEDE SADDLE.

Patented Nov; 8, 1887.

UNITED STAT S PATET Oriana,

CURTIS HUSSEY VEEDER, OF CALUMET, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE POPEMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

VELOClPEDE-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,994, dated November8, 1887.

Applicationvfiled January 3!,1887. Serial No. 226,096. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that l, CURTIS HUssEY VEEDER, ofCalumet, in the countyofHoughton and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Velocipede-Saddles, of which the following is aspecification.

, My improvements relate to that class of velocipede-saddles known assuspension saddles, in which the flexile seat-piece, of leather or othersimilar material, is supported at either end at some distance from anyunder mechanism, so as to sustain the weight of the rider by the tensionof the flexile seat-piece, and not by padding between it and the frameor tree, but in which the flexile seat-piece is carried by metallicunder mechanism connected together and complete in itself withoutincluding any part of the frame of the velocipede'on which it issupported; and in this respect it falls into the class of saddlesdescribed in-Lamplugh and Browns English Patent No. 2,7 51 of 1878. Inthis English saddle, however, and in the suspension saddles of thatclass heretofore used in the United States, the under mechanismsupporting the fiexile seat-piece consisted in a metallic plate shapedby dies, so as to support the front and rear ends of the flexile piece,and to be separated from it under all the middle portion, this underplate being rigid throughout, and this under plate was supported on asuitable springor springs connected with the frame of the velocipede;but my present saddle belongs, also, to the variety of suspensionsaddles in which it may be considered that either the under plate or thesaddle-spring (or springs) is dispensed with, or thatthe under plate andsupporting-spring are combined in one, the under mechanism, supportingthe fiexile seat-piece, being flexible and performing the functions of aspring, and in this respect my present saddle falls within the varietyof treeless suspension saddles as differentiated by me and described inmy Letters Patent numbered 239,629, dated April 5, 1881.

My present saddle also falls within the more specific variety ofadjustable tension suspension saddles,as differentiated by me and shown10, 1882, in which there are positive means in the mechanism directlysupporting the fiexile seat-piece for adjusting and securing the tension of the flexile seat-piece, and for taking up the slack in it causedby use, and for adjusting the tension of its springsupports. Now, thenature of my improvements upon these and other previous saddles will beapparent from a description of the saddle adapted for use on bicyclescontaining my improvements in one form, (shown in the accompanyingdrawings,) in which Figure 1 shows this saddle in elevation as it is inposition upon the perch of a bicycle. Fig. 2 shows the same thing inhorizontal section, on the line 00 x of Fig. 1, looking downward; andFig. 3 shows details of parts of the same. 7

A is the perch or part of the frame of a velocipede.

B is a flexile seat-piece, of leather or other suitable material and cutin any suitable shape, narrow at the forward end and wide at the rearend, to afford a seat for the rider. This flexile seat-piece may have aloop, I), at the front end, of leather or other material, forming partof or separate and attached to the flexile seat-piece, and may have atthe rear end a metallic strip or strips, with a lug or lugs, If, forconnection with the rear supporting-spring.

C is a front spring, made of a round rod of metal bent at its middlepart, c, to form asupport for the front end of the flexile seat, andcarried downward and backward, and having the two free ends c c forattachment to the connecting-plate.

D is a rear spring, composed also of round metallic rod or wire coiledabout a horizontal axis, as at d, having one end upturned, as at d, foradjustment to the flexile seat-piece by means of its under strip andlug, b and having its lower free end carried forward for attachment tothe connecting-plate.

E is a connecting-plate 0r lug-piece, having lugs e e to receive intoholes therein the ends 0 c of the front spring, and also having a part,6, containing longitudinal slots or holes 0 0, into which may be enteredand passed the ends (1 d of the rear springs, and also having a lug orthickened portion, as a containing two I DO) holes threaded to receivethe set-screws F F, and also having the ears or perforated lugs e e forinsertion of the threaded ends g g of the clamp G. I prefer to usesimplya bent spring, as shown, for the front supporting spring, since,while it is desirable to have some elasticity in t 1e front support, itis also desirable to have more elasticity in the rear support of abicyclc'sprin I also prefer to make two rear springs, D, as shown, onefor each side of the saddle and a little distance apart, and with thehorizontal coils for greater elasticity. I also prefer to make theconnectingplate E of a casting substantially in the form and with theattachments, as shown and described, to fit the perch or part of theframe on which it is to be used on its under portion, and to hold thefront springs without adjustment, and to hold the rear springs so thatthey may be pushed in and through or pulled back and out from theconnecting-plate, and when adjusted to any position desired securedthere by the small set-screws F F. I also prefer to attach this plate tothe perch or frame by means of a simple U shaped clamp-such as Ghaving aflattened loop and two threaded cylindrical ends, which may be insertedin the ears of the connecting-plate so as to clasp the perch or frame,and may be tightened and secured in position by the nuts H H; but it isobvious that modifications in the shapes and arrangements of these partsand combinations may be made without departing from the substance of myinvention, and I do not mean to limit myselfpreeiselytothcthingsshownanddescribed. It is also obvious that by this construction Isecure a saddle which affords an easy seat for the rider, kept from allcontact with metallic parts, and in which there is elasticity in theforward support and in the rear support sullicient to make an easyspring-saddle, and that the flexile seat-piece, as well as thespring,'may be adjusted for tension, and that the slaclcof the flexilepart induced by use may be taken up by loosening the set-screws F F,drawing the front and rear springs from each other, or, in thisconstruction, drawing the rear springs from the connecting-plate untilthe proper tension is acquired, and then turning the setsorews F F to afirm seat; also, that the flexile seat-piece, front and rear springs,and conmeeting-plate form a connected adj ustable and independent saddlecomplete in itself and ready for attachment to the frame. of thevelocipede, and may be adjusted backward and forward upon the framewithout disturbing the tension of the seat.

I do not claim a curved wire front spring and a coiled wire rear spring,and a broad clip or plate connecting and holding them to the perch, nora curved and coiled continuous wire front and rear spring and two clips,nor a curved wire front spring and a coiled Wire rear spring independentand separately held by clips to the perch, nor a lug-plate havingsockets to receive the ends of wire springs, nor a lug-plate having twofiat rear springs attached to it, and an extensible front plateconnecting it with the front end of the saddle,

nor the combination of either of these things with a tiexile seat-piece.

I claim as new and of my invention- The combination, in aveloeipedeseat, of a llexileseatpiece, B, acurved wire frontspring, O,coiled wire rear springs, D D, and lugplate E, having the lugs e e, e, e0 and e, guide-holes e" e, and set-screws F F, all constructed tooperate essentially as set forth.

CURTIS HUSSEY VEEDER.

Vitnesses:

James M. Mnn'ron, ALFRED B. XVAREIIAM.

